Slightly Off Topic

The History and Geography of Auld Scotia

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marilyn morning
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Slightly Off Topic

Post by marilyn morning » Sat Feb 16, 2013 5:38 am

Greeting from across the pond

I have some friends who will be visiting Endinburgh in October, they are not genealogy researches. Could any of the locals suggest some points of interest to visit on the Royal Mile or close By.? Pubs, restaurants, hotels, bed and breakfast, sight seeing attractions other then the castles. Isn't there an underground city built over the Royal Mile? Could someone remind me what the "Attraction Pass" is called? I remember buying one on my visit a while back to visit the castles and other attractions in Scotland? [scotland-flag]

Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Marilyn

StewL
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Re: Slightly Off Topic

Post by StewL » Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:10 am

Hello Marilyn
This could be what you are looking for. Here is the site.

http://www.viator.com/tours/Edinburgh/E ... &aid=g1751
Stewie

Searching for: Anderson, Balks, Barton, Courtney, Davidson, Downie, Dunlop, Edward, Flucker, Galloway, Graham, Guthrie, Higgins, Laurie, Mathieson, McLean, McLuckie, Miln, Nielson, Payne, Phillips, Porterfield, Stewart, Watson

AndrewP
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Re: Slightly Off Topic

Post by AndrewP » Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:13 am

Hi Marilyn,

At the time of the plague in the 1600s, some houses were closed up for many years, allegedly with the sufferers left inside to die. In the case of Mary King's Close, it was demolished to Royal Mile ground level at the beginning of the 20th century and part of the City Chambers built on top of the rest of it. As the close sloped steeply downwards from the Royal Mile, the buildings of the downhill section of it became part of the foundations of the City Chambers. In the later years of the 20th century the close was opened up as a tourist attraction. There are various former houses and shops in the close which are part of the tour. In some rooms you can feel a change in temperature. It is left for you to decide whether this is down to ghostly reasons or the heating pipes of the building above you. Naturally the tour promotes the ghostly ideas. It is an interesting and entertaining visit, but as it involves some stairways and steep slopes, there is no suitable access for wheelchair users or children in push-chairs. This is explained on their website.

For a rainy day, there are many museums. The National Museum of Scotland is on Chambers Street, within walking distance from the Royal Mile. On the Royal Mile, there is the Museum of Childhood. Across George IV Bridge from Chambers Street is the statue of Greyfriars Bobby, and Greyfriars Cemetery, all subject of films and stories.

For the tourist pass, and the hotels and B+Bs, hopefully people who have been visitors to the city can advise.

If they fancy a trip out of the city one day, there is Rosslyn (Roslin) Chapel which featured in The Da Vinci Code.

All the best,

AndrewP

frances
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Re: Slightly Off Topic

Post by frances » Sat Feb 16, 2013 8:58 am

The national Portrait Gallery in Queens Street is a must.

Frances :)
searching for macrae family Black Isle/ Invernessshire

Kelly/Kelley/Burns family -Ireland /Lanarkshire/Edinburgh

runmerry
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Re: Slightly Off Topic

Post by runmerry » Sat Feb 16, 2013 10:32 pm

Warning!! not for the squeamish but very interesting

http://www.museum.rcsed.ac.uk/content/content.aspx

Surgeons' Hall Museums
Nicolson Street
Edinburgh EH8 9DW
tel : +44(0)131 527 1649/678
fax : +44(0)131 557 6406
e-mail : museum@rcsed.ac.uk

and

http://www.museumonthemound.com/

if you are interested in money and this one's free

Regards
Jen

marilyn morning
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Re: Slightly Off Topic

Post by marilyn morning » Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:55 pm

Thank you everyone for all of these great suggestions. Pardon my manners by not replying back sooner.

LesleyB
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Re: Slightly Off Topic

Post by LesleyB » Tue Dec 23, 2014 6:00 pm

Surgeons' Hall Museums is closed fro refurbishment just now.

Gladstones Land on the Royal Mile is worh a visit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladstone%27s_Land

The Museum of Edinburgh, also on the Royal Mile
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Edinburgh

marilyn morning
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Re: Slightly Off Topic

Post by marilyn morning » Tue Jul 28, 2015 2:45 am

Thank you Lesley
Dogs leave paw prints on your heart.
Maxine Morning b. 23 April 1998 d. 14 Nov. 2008
http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1718

AnneM
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Re: Slightly Off Topic

Post by AnneM » Thu Jul 30, 2015 8:32 pm

I always liked the Museum of Childhood. Also on the Royal Mile.
Anne
Researching M(a)cKenzie, McCammond, McLachlan, Kerr, Assur, Renton, Redpath, Ferguson, Shedden, Also Oswald, Le/assels/Lascelles, Bonning just for starters

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